Advertising card display device



March 15, 1932. L D MacLACHLAN v 1,849,373

ADVERTISING CARD DISPLAY DEVTCE Filed July 9, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l AZ /ZT`L n, /Z/ Z/ 26 1 5'/ ^1 4 J- IEI a (x 3" :T

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l'srwcntor Mrch 15, 1932. J. D. MacLAcHLAN 1,849,373

' ADVERTISING CARD DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 9, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 C/af @Lac/z n;

Patented Mar. l5, 1932 UNITED STA JOHN D. MACLACHLAN, OF KANSAS CITY,

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A

MISSOURI, ASSIeNon y'ro Mixen-ico., oF

CORPORATION oF livfIISSoURI ADVERTISING CARD DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed July 9,

T his invention relates to automatic display devices of that class involving the use of cards pivotally mounted on a revolving carrier so that the cards on the carrier shall be successively displayed, and the display repeated in '5 the same order as long as the device is in op' eration. It also relates to devices of the char-4 acter indicated in which the cards are so relatively arranged with respect to the direction of travel, that the rear face of each Vcard Shall cooperate with the front face of the following card in the display of a single advertisement, the two cards at the display period occupying substantially the same vertical plane in rela- 1, tively inverted ositions.` It has also been a proposed with evices of the character described to employ rotary carriers having peripheral pivotal openings for the respective cards, so that each of the llatter in the interim between one display and the next, shall extend at an angle to a radial plane bisecting the outer edge of the card and the axis of the carrier during upwardtravel within the casing, and thus permit of the use of a cabinet of 25 smaller size from top to bottom and from front to back than would be necessary if the cards in such travel occupied a radial position with respect to the axis of the carrier. f

In all the devices of Athe character' mentioned which have come under my observapermitting the use of a shallower cabinet.

Another object is to produce a display dei vice operable by arelatively small and weak motor, and this object is attained byproviding for a closer approach of the pivotal points or trunnions of the cards to the axis of the carrier in the upward travel mentioned, ofthe cards. v

Another oi my objects therefore is to employ slots in the carrier for the pivotal points tion, the pivotal point of each card remainsV 1930. serial No. @$6,676.

`or trunnions ofthe cards, so that such points shall, in the upward travelofthe card from a point below the axis oi the'carrier .to about the horizontal lplane of such axis, move inward and thus reduce the leverage and therebythe power required `to carry thefcards upwardly, the use ot such slots furthermore permitting ofa reduction in the height 4of the cabinet as well as in its rearwardl depth. j y, 4. Another object isA to provide flat pivots or trunnions for the cards which will enable each of the latter to bodilydrop `downward'fand then move upward as it swings from its upper display position to its lower display position, and in such action cause its hinged edge to engage the adjacent corresponding'edge of the following card and slightlyv raise the same so that what may be termed the inner or jbutt edges of two cards in display position shall abut and by thus closing the joint `between displayed cardsto the them, present the two eyeasasingle card. j l

Another object is to provide each card with a` holding frame and its hinge or inner edge with rounded clips to facilitatetheswinging of each card from its upper-to its lower position against the preceding card, and to provide springs rfor holding the cardsypressed yieldinglyxedgewise against thesaid clips to insure closeV butt engagements of displaying cards, and to facilitate the removal vand breplacement ofa card when necessary. p

f One of the objects is to provide a device which is peculiarly adapted for use as an advertisement in street cars, motorbusses and the like, and which therefore must be capaj ble of withstanding the ordinary jolting andv shaking incident to travel of such cars and busses, and another objective is4 to provide a:

construction which makes' provision Vfurthe removal .andthe replacement of any one 0r more of the cards when the motor to operate the same is inactive, and to, accomplish this I have provided agearing orldrive connec-v tion which automatically yields to permit the carrier to be rotated by hand without disturbing the gearing connection with,v the motor. v

Withthese objects in view .and others asv hereinafter appear, the inventlon conslsts in vational View indicating how-each card lasit f swings'from upright to inverted position applies a slight lifting action on the following card so that the butt or hinge edges of the cardsshall stand in abutting relation when functioning to conjunctively display the advertising matter ontheir forwardly facing sides. Y

Figure 4 is a fragment-ary detailed perspective view of two cards in display posi- Y tion.

Figure 5 is a broken view showing the inner edge of one of the cards and a part of the holder exposed by omitting a portion of the card. Y

Figure 6 is a broken elevational view of one of the cards disposed in inverted position, and alsoV showing the holder therefor partly in section.

Figure 7 is an end view of the construction disclosed by Figure '6.

Figure v8 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the connection between the driving mechanism and the carrier. y

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates a cabinet open at the front side except for a cross lpiece or head 2 and a bottom reflector 3, the reflector having the additional function of substantially hiding depending cards hereinafter identified, behind the foremost one from the view of ,a person stationed in front of the cabinet. nating means l is preferably provided within the reflector so that the latter shall diffuse light upon the exposed faces of the two front superposed cards for conjunctive display ofv a single advertisement. If desired there may be an equivalent illuminating means (not shown) at the top of the cabinet.

Arranged on 'a horizontal shaft 5 withinA the cabi-net and near the respective side walls thereof, is a rotary carrier consisting of a pairof'disks, and said shaft is ournaled at l one `end inany suitable manner in or to the adJacent side-wall and at the other end secured to the respective disk, the latter being An illumically below the carrier is a second stub shaft and journaled thereon is a small gear 12 meshing with the large gear 8, and rigid and in concentric relation with the small gear, and interposed between the large gear and the adjacent side wall ofthe cabinet, is another large gear 13 which meshes with an idler gear 1st journaled on the rear end of lever 15 Apivoted at its front end to the last mentioned side wall,psaid lever having a guide slot 16 engaging a lined screw 17 mounted in the side wall, and to hold the lever flatly againstthe latter, a washer 18 is interposed between the head of said fixed screw and the lever.-

The idler gear meshes with a small pinion 1Q rigid with a large worm wheel 2O suitably journaled in th-e cabinet, the arrangementY being such that rotationrof the Vworm wheel in the direction indicated by the adjacent arrow, Figure 1,` exerts through the engagement of the ninion with the idler gear, a lifting force on the latter and the lever, to hold said idler gear in intermeshed relationship to the large gear 13, and asa precautionary measure itis desirable tov employa spring 21 exerting force in the same` direc.- tion, thatis to raise the gear end of the lever. By the arrangement described it will be apparent lthat as long as the worm whe-el'is in operation, it is exerting a lifting force on the lever through the connection mentioned, and hence holds the vidler gear in intergeared relation with the large gear 13.` `The worm wheel is driven by the motor 22, the shaft of the latter having a worin meshing with,

the worm wheel. Should the motor be inactive and it be desired at such time to turn the carrier in the direction indicated by the adjacent arrow, igure '1, for the purpose of bringing a cardV or cards through the front opening of the cabinet to permit of ready removal or replacement, it is apparent that the carrier can be rotated in the direction of said last mentioned arrow, as the instant this action starts the gear wheel 13 exerts force on the` idler gear and the latter utilizing the pinion 19 as a resistance point, moves. downward nntil the idler is disengaged from the said gear wheel, it being obvious that in this operation a slight clicking sound will be noticeable as the teeth of the said gear wheel successively ride over the teeth of the idler which cannot rotate because of its interlocled engagement with the said pinion 19, andthe instant the turning of the carrier is stopped,

Vthe spring will re-elevate theidler against or'into gear with the said gear wheel'. Should the spring merely,r raise the idler ag instY the n teeth of the gear wheel 13, the operative intergeared relationship between thetwo will instantly be reestablished when the motor is again started up, as the latter in applying force to the pinion on the idler gearv to rotate the same will incidentally lift itfback rai l il@ slots are preferabi y curved and may extend radially of the carrier. It is preferable how-` ever, that they extend at a slight angle to a radial direction, as it is believed that a certain shifting movement of the pivotal points or trunnions hereinafterl mentioned, of the display cards, takes place more sn othly in the slots formed and arranged as shown than if straight and/or disposed exactly radial with respect tothe carrier, it being understood of course that the principle and mode of operation `ivill be substantially the samev with either arrangement.

Each card is composed of two similar members 25 and 26 of the same form and size and fitted flatly together, and fitting between the inner edges of each pair of said members is aY thin metal axle plate 2?, terminating in alined end trunnions 28 of oblong rectangular cross section, and each axle plate 27 has a plurality of Ushaped clips 29 itting over and secured to its inner edge and disposed angularly thereof, the legs of each clip being spaced apart so that the'plate and the two card members fitting flatly against it, shall lie snugly between the legs of the clip, and in order that two cards when standing respectively in uprightand inverted positions in substantially the same vertical plane, shall abut together edgewise and thus present to the observer a substantially continuous card, the clips are embedded slightly in the edges f the respective axle plates 27 and like vise in the adjacent edges of the cards enga ing such plates.

The vclips 29 are disposed at identical points along the length of the cards, so that those on an upwardly-projecting card shall come into direct bearing Contact with those on an underlying inverted card, it being noticed however that when a card is inverted from an upright to a hanging or pendant position, the angle of the clips thereon will intersect the angles of the clips on the over lying or upright card. Hence, as a card swings from its upright to its pendant position, the engaged clips of the two cards will talre up the wear that would otherwise be iinposed on the edges of the cards. In other words, the clips not only serve to retain the inner or hinge edges of the card members flatly against the respective axle p es but eliminate friction in a large measure in the turning action of each card from nprightto a pendant or inverted position.

The two card members while movable *to-- p gether, are designed to bear unrelated jrising matter as their faces are never concurrently exposed to viewand either member. is

designed for replacementwithout disturbing.

the other, but for holding each pair ofca'rd members, I have provided a U-shaped frame of thin metal of channel form,'each frame consisting 'of an outer or cross piece 30 paralleling the axle plate-and receiving the outer edgesv of the two members 25 and 26, and end arms `3l receiving the ends of lsaid members, and Vprojecting inwardly lfrom andirforining extensions of the arms .31, arebars A82 engaging the respective trunnions 28 ofthe axle plates 27. The bars 32 y hold the flattened trunnions against turning movement relative't the frame, and arranged within theV channel 'of the cross piece 30 are twoor more springs 23S-which engageV the outer edges of the card members and hold them pressed edgewise against the clips 29, the springs being repressible by the card members when the latter are forced by hand power, to cause their inner edges to pass from between the legs of the clips and thenv be spread apart preliniinarily to the removal of the members. To place the members within a holding frame, they are slid within the channeled-cross piece 30 against the resistance of springs 33 until their inner edges clear the ends of the respective clips ofthe axle plate, and then said edges are caused to approachl and bear flatly against opposite sides of cross piece 27. l/Vhen thus disposed the outward pressure on the card members is'relaxed and the springs 33 permitted to force them i11- wardly between the legs of the clips and the axle plate 27 until arrested by the bridge portions of the clips.

Cards and holders `constructed and Aarranged 'as described make provision for the ready replacement of the member or members of a card when accessible byprojection through the' front opening of the cabinet,

andas stated the cards can be brought to the accessible point mentioned when the carrier is inv operation under power of the motor, or the carrier can be rotated by hand for such purpose, when the motor 1s not in operation. This changing of the cards in display devices for use in street cars and the4 two foremostcards are in'abutting relation-l ship at their inner edges,one projecting ,up-V wardly andthe otherdownwardly, and vit will be noted that the leverage resistance ofia large proportion of the'cards when travelling-iupwardlywithin the cabinet, is reduced by reaf son of the yfact that theirtrunnions vare disposed at or near the inner ends of the respecf the approximate Vrelay tive slots of the disks, it being noted that at a certain angle the inner end of one upwardly moving card engages the adjacent face or side of the next card in advance and applies pressure'tliereon toward the back of the cabinetV to cause the outer end of said card toswing rearwardly and upwardly, and as a result of this action the trunnions of the card thussubjected to pressure, move in the respective slots nearer the axis of rotation of the carrier. This action is repeated by the lastmentioned card onv the next card in advance and sov on until the horizontal plane of the axisof the carrier is reached, at which time the card disposed with its trunnions in approximately the horizontal plane of the axis of the carrier has its trunnions at the inner ends of the respective slots. From the plane mentioned the position of the trunnions of the cards is reversed, that is to say they gradually move outward in the slots until they successively reach a point vertically above the axis of the carrier. The card at the top of the axis of the carrier will extend approximately horizontal under the pressure of the underlying card and the inner end of the said horizontal card will be applying upward pressure on the preceding card, and then the trunnions ofthe cards as they travel around the carrier will again move gradually inward. Two or three of the foremost cards occupying an upright or upstanding position will lean against the front or head piece of the cabinet and against each other, the foremost card however will underlie the head piece and bear against the stop pin 34: depending from the head piece, and about the time it attains this position the card ahead of it which under rotation of the carrier was withdrawn from behind the stop pin, swings by gravitative force to'an inverted or pendant position. In this action, as it passes a horizontal position, its inner edge lirst drops slightly and then rises vdue to the use of the flat trunnions. The dropping action of the swinging card permits the foremost upright card to Vmove downwardV slightly and the following upward movement ofthe swinging card, causes its hinge or innerl edge to press upwardly and forwardly against the lower or hinge edge of the upright card so that the latter shall be slightly lifted and its hinge edge moved to the front or outer end of the respective slots and therefore stand in substantially the same vertical plane as the hinge or upper edge of the swinging card as the movement of the latter ceases upon attaining a pendant and inverted position. The two cards thus form in eifect a single card facing an observer and maintain such relation until the slowly moving carrier lowers the upright card enough forYV its outer edgeto clear the pin 34 and in turn swing dou-inward and expose Aits rear side to view. The action described is repeatedto display different advertisements until the carrier has made a complete revolution. It will be understood from the foregoing that the front face of the upright card and the rear face of the inverted underlying card bear related matter constituting a single advertisement and the rear face of the upright card engagingthe pin, will, when inverted, present advertising matter related to that which ap-V pears en the second or following upright card. when the same is in operative or display position. v

l claim:

l. In a device of thecharacter described,

a rotary carrier having a pair of spaced disks provided with opposite series of peripheral openings and a series of cards between the disks and having fixed pivots ory trunnions at their inner corners loosely engaging opposits openings of the disks, the pivots being i downward, and nen causing such edges of the respective cards to move upward as the movement of the cards proceeds, by the continue-d turning action of the pivots on the lower edges of said openings, until the wider -faces of the pivots stand in an approximately vertical position.

2. ln. a device of the character described, a rotary carrier having spaced disks provided vith opposite circular series of peripheral slots, the slots of each disk bearing an inwardly converging relation, and a series of cards fitting between the disks and provided at their inner corners with flattened pivots engaging opposite slots of the disks, the pivots being narrower at their wider sides than the width of the engaged slots, and capable of bodily shifting movement in the latter transversely and longitudinally as well as rotatably, the wider sides of the pivots being disposed parallel with the faces of the respective cards and the narrower sides at right angles-to the faces said cards, the pivotsbeing set back from the inner edges of the! 'cards to permit such edges when the respective cards are proiecting upward approximately vertically, to occupy a horizontal plane below that of the respective slots.

ln a device of the character described, a rotary carrier, a series of cards around the car 1ier,'t`ne having pin-and-slot con- Vnections lat their inner ends with the carrier,

permitting gravitative swinging movement of the cards relative to the oar ier and also providing for automatic shifting movement of the pivoted ends of the cards nearer to or further from the axis ofthe carrier While the latter is in motion.

4. In a device of the character described,v

a carrier comprising a shaft and a pair of spaced disks thereon each provided With a circular series oit substantially radial slots, a series oi' cards corresponding in number to one series oiQ said slots and disposed at their inner ends between the disks and provided at such ends With laterall7 projecting trunnion pins, the pins projecting in one direction engaging the respective slots of the adjacent disk and the pins projecting in the other direction engaging the corresponding slots of the other dislr; the said trunnion pins being of lessy diameter in both directions than the Width of the respective slots and oi smaller diameter at right angles to the faces ot the respective cards than in the di- V rection paralleling such faces, to cause the respective cards to gravitate from an npright position to a pendant position and in describing such movement tov move down- Ward and then upward at their pivoted ends relative to the axis of the carrier.

5. In a device oifl the character described, a cabinet open at its front side, a horizontally arranged carrier journaled in the cabinet adjacent the open side thereof, a series of cards arranged around and pivotally mounted on the carrier adjacent the periphery thereotl and adapted as theyY successively attain an upwardly projecting position at the open sice of the cabinet, to expose their front sides to View and then under the rota-tion of the carrier, swing' to a vertically pendant position to expose their opposite sides toV View, a motor geared to the carrier for imparting continuons slow movement to the latter to cause the cards to successively funcion as stated, said gearing including a driving pinion, a train of gearing permanently intergeared with the carrier, and an idler gear permanently geared to said pinion and held by the latter in yielding engagement with said train oi gearing and adapted under rotation of the pinion by the motor to impart rotation to the train of gearing in the direction to effect the proper movement of the carrier and the cards for the display of the latter, and adapted when the motor is inactive and the carrier is turned by hand in the proper direction, to yield under the pressure of the train of gearing to permit the latter to turn, the idler gear ulcruming on the said pinion in such yielding movement Without becoming disengaged therefrom.

6. In a device of the character described, a motor, a worm shaft driven thereby, a large Worm Wheel engaging the Worm, a gear pinion rotatable with the Worm Wheel, a rotary card carrier, a train or" gearing connected to the carrier to operate the same, a lever, and

an idler gear journaled on the lever and'perinanently meshing With said pinion and normally held'by 'the latterin intergeared relationv with the train of gearing, and adapted When the motor is at ,rest and the carrier is turned, to yield to the pressure of the train of gearing to permit the latter to turn without a rotary card carrier, a train of gearing con? nected to the carrier tooperate the same, a lever, an idler gear Journaled on the lever and permanently meshing vwith said pinion and'4 normally held by the latter in intergeared relation with the train of gearing, and adapted When the motor is at rest and the carrier is turned, to yield to the pressure of the train of gearing to permit the latter to turn ivithj out transmitting rotationto said pinion, and

adapted when the pinion is properly turnedV i by the motor, tof resume its intergeared rela' y tion'ivithgthe train of gearing to cause the same and the carrier tooperate, and a'spring applying force on'fthe lever'tending tohold the idler gearin intergeared relation to the train of gearing. v

8. In a device ofthe character described, a

hinge plate, pairofcards fitting at their inner ends against the opposite 4sides of said hinge plate, at U-shaped; channeled card holder'rame'receiving the outer ends and side edges of the pair of cards, bars secured tol the'side portions Vof said framel and nonrotata'bly engaging the hinge plate, yielding mea-nscarried by said frame and applying inward pressure-against theouter edges ofV the cards, and means forfholding th'einner ends of thecards'liatly against the hingev plate and `for limiting inwardmoveme'ntof the cards under means. i y Y 9. In a device of the character described, a hingeplate, a pair of cards fitting at their `inthe pressure ofV saidyielding ner ends against theopposite sides of said hinge plate, Va `U-shaped channeled card holder frame receiving the outer ends and side-edgesoi' the pair of cards, bars secured to the sideportions of said frame and nonrotatably engaging the hinge plate, .yielding means carried by said frame and applying in- Ward pressure against the outer edges of the cards, and substantially Ueshaped clips eX- tending diagonally through the hinge plate at its inner edge, the arms of said clips eX- tending outwardly and vspacedfrom the respective sides of said plate to hold the inner ends of the respective cards interposed lbetween the hinge plate and said arms.

l0. In a device of the character described,

a display element comprising a holder frame es. e4

g of substantially U-shape,.a hinge plate in the same plane as but spaced from the inner ends of thearms of the holder frame and paralleling the bridge portion of said frame, bars constituting extensions of the arms of said frame and non-rotatably connected to said plate, substantially U-shaped clips at the inner edge ot and secured to said` plate, anda card slidably carried by said U-shaped frame lo and interposed at its inner end between the hinge plate and sai`d clips.

1l. In a device of. thecharacter described, a display element comprising a holder frame of substantially U-shape, a hinge plate in the l5 same planetas but spaced from. the inner ends Y ofthe arms of the holder frame and paralleling the bridge portion of said frame, bars constituting extensions of the arms of said frame and. non-rotatably'connected to saidplate, substantially U-shaped clips'at the inner edge ,of and secured to said plate, a card' slidablyTA carriedby said U-shaped trame and interposed atits inner end between the hinge plate and said clips, and sprin'gsseeuredy to the said frame and applying yielding outward pressure against the out-1er edge ol the card', the springs being` adapted to yield enough when pressureis appliedv to force theea-rd; outward,.to permit the-inner edge of t-he latter to clear the outer ends ofv the clips for facilitating` the insertion or removal ot the card relativeto the holdingl fra-me.

12. The'eombinationfot arcar-rier rotatable around, a horizontal axis, a'serieso flat aXle plates between and journaled at their ends in the carrier7 a seriesof pairs of cards, eachi pair fittingl flatly togetherand against thev re-` spective axle plate, the pivotal points of 'the plates` beingr outward of' the inner edges of 40 the cards, similar diagonallydisposedy clips secu redto .therespective axle plates at equal? distances from their ends and fittingaround the-inner edges: of the respective cards and holding them flatly against the respective axle plates, the ,clipsl of adjacent. pairs of cards, when one pair is extending upwardly andtheother pair downwardly in approxif mately the same Vertical plane, engaging and extending inl intersecting; planes oblique toY to' the aXisof the axle plates.Y

i In testimony whereof I aliixmy signature.

JOHN- D. MAGLACHLAN. 

